Paddy Reilly, the well-known Cavan-born, New York-based entrepreneur, passed away on Monday, May 27 after a battle against kidney cancer.

A native of Feugh (Bishop), Milltown, Co. Cavan, Reilly came to New York in 1958. At the end of that year he met his future wife Helen Murphy who introduced him to John Tully, who, in 1963 became his first business partner in Reilly and Tully's on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. This was to be the first of many bars and restaurants for Reilly in Queens. They included the Tower View on Roosevelt Avenue, where he was a partner with Peter Murphy.

In 1966 Reilly and Helen were married, and they had two children, Kathleen and Colm. Helen was killed in a car crash in 1987, and Reilly and his second wife Angela went on to own and manage the Molly Wee Pub in New York. Reilly also has interests in several other bars and restaurants throughout New York.

Reilly was an active member of several Irish organizations in New York, among them the Cavan P&B Association and the Armagh Association. He was also instrumental in the creation of the New York Irish Center in Long Island City, Queens.

Reilly’s wake will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, May 29 and 30, at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, Queens. His body will be returned to Ireland for burial.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the New York Irish Center, 1040 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens, 11101, or to Sister Consilio’s addiction treatment centers throughout Ireland.

Reilly is survived by Angela, daughter Kathleen and her husband Gerard McCrink, and son Colm and his partner Shane Matthews.